Tag Archives: Michigan

Michigan Live reports: State Rep. Larry Inman said he probably should have picked up the phone and called labor union representatives instead of sending texts that would later be part of a federal indictment alleging he solicited bribes. Inman, R-Traverse City, was indicted May 15 by federal prosecutors for attempted extortion, bribery and lying to an FBI agent. The indictment …

The Detroit Free Press reports: A state representative has been indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of trying to sell his vote on a measure to repeal Michigan’s prevailing wage law. Rep. Larry Inman, R-Traverse City, was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Grand Rapids, court records show. House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, called on Inman on …

Roll Call reports: A three-judge panel on Thursday ruled that Michigan must use new congressional and legislative maps in 2020, potentially setting up a more favorable battlefield for House Democrats, who flipped two seats in the state last fall. The federal court invalidated portions of the existing maps, drawn by the GOP-controlled legislature in 2011, pointing to an unconstitutional partisan …

NBC News reports: A major faith-based foster care and adoption contractor for the state of Michigan said Monday it will place children in LGBTQ homes, reversing course following a recent legal settlement. Grand Rapids-based Bethany Christian Services is responsible for about 8 percent of Michigan’s more than 13,000 foster care and adoption cases involving children from troubled households. “We are …

Mediaite reports: Before the President took the stage, his son, Donald Trump Jr. warmed up the crowd. During those remarks, he laid into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Democrats in general for being pushed by her to the left. “Think about the fact that every mainstream, leading Democratic contender is taking the advice of a freshman congresswoman who three weeks ago …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Michigan will no longer financially support adoption and foster care agencies that refuse to work with same-sex couples and LGBTQ individuals because of religious beliefs under the terms of a settlement of a lawsuit negotiated by Attorney General Dana Nessel. The settlement, which was announced Friday, sets up a battle with the Republican-led Legislature, which …

Mediaite reports: The GOP House Speakers of two states have invited President Donald Trump to give his State of the Union from their respective state capitols. “Due to the unavailability of the United States House of Representatives for your State of the Union address, I would like to extend to you an official invite to deliver your address in the …

The Associated Press reports: Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed a new directive to prohibit LGBT-based discrimination in state services or by state contractors, replacing a narrower order that her Republican predecessor issued days before he left office. Whitmer’s directive, like one signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in late December, says state contracts, grants and loans must include a …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Republican Gov. Rick Snyder on Friday signed a law making it harder for groups to put proposals on the Michigan ballot, imposing a geographical-based requirement that could prevent them from gathering signatures for petitions mainly from the most populated areas. The move followed voters’ passage of three Democratic-backed proposals last month and Republicans’ unprecedented tactic …

The Detroit Free Press reports: At 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Michigan turned green and became the 10th state in the nation to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use. But the old saying, “Smoke ’em if you got ’em,” carries many, many caveats. Marijuana won’t be commercially available for sale until state regulators draft rules and regulations for the recreational market. They …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Amid a day of protests by hundreds of people across the Capitol on bills that change voter-approved ballot proposals and expand the authority of the Republican-controlled Legislature, the GOP voted to gut proposals to raise the minimum wage to $12 per hour and require employers to provide sick time for employees. Protesters filled the rotunda …

Called this morning. Detroit’s ABC affiliate reports: Republican incumbent Mike Bishop has conceded the race for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Slotkin, from Holly, previously worked in both the George W. Bush and Obama presidential administrations and unseated the two-term Republican. Bishop, who is from Rochester, served in both the State House and State Senate before being …

Just called. Click On Detroit reports: Democrat Dana Nessel beat Republican Tom Leonard in the race for Michigan Attorney General. Leonard conceded the race to Nessel on Wednesday morning. Dana Nessel is best known for successfully fighting to overturn Michigan’s ban on gay marriage. Nessel, 49, has been a Detroit-area prosecutor and defense attorney but made headlines as co-counsel in …

The Associated Press reports: Fox News has projected Gretchen Whitmer as the next governor of Michigan with 7% of the vote being reported at 9:15 p.m. The Democrat formerly served in the Michigan State Senate, representing District 23 from 2006 to 2015. During the final four years of her time in the state Senate she served as minority leader and …

The Detroit News reports: In a legal opinion sure to reverberate through his campaign for governor, Republican Attorney General Bill Schuette on Friday deemed “invalid” a new agency interpretation that had extended anti-discrimination protections to gay and transgender Michigan residents. The formal opinion was derided by a Democratic state lawmaker as an attempt to “trample” on the gay community but …

The Associated Press reports: The Michigan Court of Appeals ordered Thursday that an anti-political gerrymandering measure be placed on the November ballot, rejecting opponents’ contention that the proposed constitutional amendment is too expansive and does not list all sections that would be abrogated. The conservative group that sued vowed to appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court, which will have the …

The Associated Press reports: A former lawyer with the state of Michigan who had intense hostility for a gay college student has lost an appeal to keep his law license. Andrew Shirvell’s 2017 disbarment was affirmed Tuesday by the Attorney Discipline Board. Shirvell was an assistant attorney general. He was fired in 2010 after criticizing Christopher Armstrong on an anti-gay …

Flint, Michigan’s Fox affiliate reports: Robert DeLand, a Saginaw priest who had been arrested and charged with sex crimes in March is now facing new charges. The new charges include: second degree criminal sexual conduct, second degree criminal sexual conduct causing personal injury, controlled substance delivery, and contributing to a delinquency of a minor. DeLand was out on bond, but …

Flint’s ABC affiliate reports: Police were serving search warrants Thursday in connection with the investigation of Saginaw area priests. A contingent of law enforcement officials from multiple agencies raided Bishop Joseph Cistone’s residence, the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw offices and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Saginaw. Police obtained the three search warrants that were being executed as part of the investigation …